Why Truman Had the Right to Drop the Atomic Bomb
President Truman Had the Right to Drop the Atomic Bomb
“On the morning of August 6, 1945, the American B-29 Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later another B-29, Bock’s Car, released one over Nagasaki. Both caused enormous casualties and physical destruction.” (Maddox 1). These disastrous events have weighted upon the American conscience ever since that day in history. Even though there are some people that disagree with the dropping of the atomic bomb, President Truman’s decision was very critical because he prevented the loss of many American lives, Japanese soldiers fought with no notion of ever surrendering, and it brought an end to a bloody war.
The decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japan in August of 1945 was made by a complex group of technological, political and military influences. History has it that the bombs were dropped in order to save American lives by avoiding the invasion of Japanese homelands, at least, that was what President Truman told the American public at the time. “For years, this simple view has been challenged by a seemingly more sophisticated academic perspective that the bombs were wrongfully used against innocent civilians, did not genuinely factor into the surrender of Japan, and would have better served the war effort as part of a diplomatic “carrot and stick” package.” (Beason 1). Some argue that the first bomb may have been required to achieve Japanese surrender, but the second one was a needless act of barbarism. According to Admiral William D. Leahy, the President’s Chief of Staff, “The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war over Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender…” (Beason 1). However, I have many facts to counteract all of these criticisms and to support President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb.
President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb saved many American lives during
“On the morning of August 6, 1945, the American B-29 Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later another B-29, Bock’s Car, released one over Nagasaki. Both caused enormous casualties and physical destruction.” (Maddox 1). These disastrous events have weighted upon the American conscience ever since that day in history. Even though there are some people that disagree with the dropping of the atomic bomb, President Truman’s decision was very critical because he prevented the loss of many American lives, Japanese soldiers fought with no notion of ever surrendering, and it brought an end to a bloody war.
The decision to drop two atomic bombs on Japan in August of 1945 was made by a complex group of technological, political and military influences. History has it that the bombs were dropped in order to save American lives by avoiding the invasion of Japanese homelands, at least, that was what President Truman told the American public at the time. “For years, this simple view has been challenged by a seemingly more sophisticated academic perspective that the bombs were wrongfully used against innocent civilians, did not genuinely factor into the surrender of Japan, and would have better served the war effort as part of a diplomatic “carrot and stick” package.” (Beason 1). Some argue that the first bomb may have been required to achieve Japanese surrender, but the second one was a needless act of barbarism. According to Admiral William D. Leahy, the President’s Chief of Staff, “The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war over Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender…” (Beason 1). However, I have many facts to counteract all of these criticisms and to support President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb.
President Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb saved many American lives during
Cited: Beason, Keith. The Atomic Bomb Controversy. 2011. Web. 7 March 2013. <angelfire.com/ga/wkb/abombframe.html>. Cochran, Bert. Harry Truman and the Crisis Presidency. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1973. Print. Compton, Karl T. "If the Atomic Bomb Had Not Been Used." Atlantic Monthly 1946: 54-56. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. Maddox, Robert James. “The Biggest Decision: Why We Had To Drop The Atomic Bomb.” American Heritage 46.3 (1995): 70. Academic Search Elite. Web. 4 March 2013. McCullough, David G. Truman. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992. Print. Stimson, Henry L. "The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb." Harper 's Magazine 1947: 96-107. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.